Levelizing resilient mounting of vehicle bodies to chassis frames



Apnl 25, 1950 J. F. MEADE 2,505,294

LEVELIZING RESILIENT MOUNTING OF VEHICLE BODIES TO CHASIS FRAMES Filed Nov. 29, 1946 2 sheets sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS J. F. MEADE LEVELIZING RESI LIENT MOUNTING OF VEHICLE BODIES TO CHASIS FRAMES April 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, I946 INVENTOR /2 TILE/ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1950 LEVELIZING RESIIIIIENT MOUNTING OF VEHICLE BODIES 'ro CHASSIS FRAMES Joseph F. Meade, Hammondsport, N. Y., assignor V to Mercury Aircraft Incorporated, Hammondsport, N. Y., a corporation Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 713,139

My present invention comprises a novel levelizing resilient mounting of vehicle bodies to the chassis frames of such vehicles and is especially adaptedfor use in the mounting of truck or bus bodies to chassis frames. body of resilient material has been compressed The primary object of my invention is to probetween two of its confining sides. vide a novel resilient mounting of the body to the Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the chassis frame whereby the body will be yieldably structure shown in Figure l, certain of the parts or floatingly supported upon the chassis frame, being shown in section, and other parts being whereby the body is insulated from the chassis shown in elevation. frame to substantially eliminate metal to metal Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially contact therebetween and whereby the said reon line 5--5 of Figure 4, silient mounting may be utilized for leveling the Now referring to the drawings for a detailed body with respect to the frame to compensate for description of the invention there is illustrated in any irregularities in the construction of the body Figure 1 a portion of the body and chassis frame: and frame when assembled in the completed veof a truck or like vehicle, the truck body consist mom ing of a series of transverse crossbeams I of chan- In the accomplishment of the foregoing objecnel form, the opposite ends of which are secured tive, my i vention provides not only cushioning to vertical posts to the outer sides of which is seof the body with respect to the frame but insulacured the sheet metal outer skin 3 of the body and tion and levelizing functions as well whereby the to the inner sides of which posts 2 is secured the shocks and noise incident to relative movement sheet metal inner skin 4 of the body. The posts of the parts of the vehicle body and frame in use 2 are rigidly braced to the crossbeams I by means are substantially reduced and the riding qualities of channel shaped braces 5. The plywood iloorof the vehicle are greatly improved.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a body of resilient material such as a block of rubber or the like interposed between the body and the chassis frame of the vehicle and substantially confined on all sides except one side which is that side which may contact with either the body or the chassis frame. My invention further contemplates the provision of means for compressing the body of resilient material in a horizontal direction between two of its confining noted that these crossbeams I are of channel sides whereby the resilient body is caused to flow shape, generally of U-shape in cross section and in the vertical direction of its unconfined side having the laterally extending flanges Ia. Withwhereby to cause movement of the vehicle body in the channel portions of the crossbeams I is disin a'vertical direction with respect to the chassis posed a body of resilient material such as the frame. 1 40 block of rubber indicated by the numeral 9, which. Other objects, advantages and features of the when so disposed, is confined on three sides by the invention will appear from the following detailed bottom and sides of the channel member I, the description taken in conjunction with the acrubber body 9 snuglyfitting therein. Figures 2, companying drawings in which: 4 and 5 show clearly that in the normal uncom- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view pressed condition of the rubber block 9 it proof body and chassis frame parts of a truck or like trudes from the open side of the channel I and vehicle illustrating one application of my invensaid rubber block 9 is provided throughout its tion, the section being taken substantially on length with the latterly extending portions 9a line II of Figure 5. which lie between the flanged portions I a, of the Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken channel I and the adjacent portion of the longithrough the mounting of the body and chassis tudinal channel beam 8 of the chassis. frame parts showing the construction of my in- The body of resilient material 9 is provided with vention on an enlarged scale, and illustrating the transverse openings or passages extending transcondition of the elements as when the bod of versely therethrough and in which are disposed resilient material is .in normal uncompressed consuitable metal bushings II! which are of the same *1 Claims. (01. 296-35) dition, this view being an enlargement of the corresponding portion of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the condition of the parts when the ing 6 of the interior of the truck body is suitably secured to the crossbeams I by means of bolts 1.

The truck body, consisting of the parts already described, is mounted upon the longitudinal channel beams 8 of the vehicle chassis, which beams 8 extend longitudinally or lengthwise of the vehicle.

The manner of mounting the body to the chassis frame 8 is best shown in Figures 2 to 5.

Referring now to Figure 5, wherein the formation of the crossbeams I is best shown, it will be length as the interior transverse width of the channel member I so that the ends of the bushings II] are flush with the sides of the rubber block 9. Through the bushings III and through corresponding apertures in the sides of the channel I bolts II are adapted to extend for securing the rubber block in place inthe channel 1;. other. openings or-passages extend through the rubber block 9 in a direction at right angles to the passages in which the bushings II] are disposed. In; vin.

these other openings or passages block are disposed metal bushings;

A "9i shorter than the corresponding dimension of the rubber block 9 as will appeanmost clearlg {rpmthe; nu

Figures 2, 3 and 4. i

The ends of the rubber block 9 are confined between plates I3 and I4 wh -i oh are secured; position by means of tensioning bolts e end ing through suitable apertures in the plates I3? and is and through the bushings I2, the ends of thezzbolts t5: receiring nuts :Ifi." which :s'erve.-- to; secure the bolts i5 with.. the plates? l=3agand 'lila'in placezonfthe: rub-benblock' 9; 7

From; the ioregoing'description it will: be. seen:

th'atthegmounting unit is1comprisedofi thekrube her block togetherwithztheeplates i3xand 11 k and:

the; bolts-I155 for securingthe. plates to;the:-block', the; said-- rnounting unit being. securedzxwithtthei rubber block 9'5. disposed in the-channel portion?- of the orossbeam I solely by means 'of thecrossagg bolts iii; and the. nuts 1 Hi1. cooperating therewith;

In the employment of my invention iormount-" ing eveliiclerbodiesrta ohassisaf rames; .thes mountiing. unit :is e-firsittsecured itovthe'.crossb'e'am .L wlth:

therubber block9 disposed= in the cl-iannel therer' ofyiby' means of thet crossbolts l l; and: the. nuts. 1 ia; securing theesame :z-inv position. The body: mounted rte athecc-hassis frame? in the manner in'- dicated in the drawingsand securedto:.the:chas'- through apertures in the: pl'atestt li-and in the 1on gitudinal 'chann'ehbeams :8; theibolts 2H ireceivings the: mats $58 for securing 'th liates M rto': theflom gitudinal: channel beam f -"tlieichassisi When i theibo'dy "is fassembledzonathezlongitudinal chane nel beams 8 ofithe chassisf-ran ier'in-the manner indicated, the; vehicle; .-body will be; supported upon the rubber block" .9 'Wlthzthel-=p0ftfOIlS19k thereof interposedhetween'e the" longitudinal-" channel beams; e: of: therchassis and 'thezfiangedr 5 the channel of the crossbeam' l; th,e;.af-oresaidcompression of the body of --res.ili ent material #9.

win caused-he samezto, 'flQVy substantiallyentirely vertical direction reacting: against"stable.-

d1 he nn'el beamas 'ofjthe chassis frame an the.erossbcamitoefiect a liftillgZOlYIElSiIlgl .ent. of the vehiclebody' in the vicinityot its: suspension upon: the: body of resilient mate Since thesemountin'gnunits each i i-'1 g; a respective body of resilient mate'r'ial; 9?

these mounting? units beings'generally designated 170 by the letter A; are'prcjvid-ed at :various pointsmf supporter the-vehicle body-upon the longitudinal channel beams 'B of' :t-heichassis, =rrame: bysuite" able adjustment-10f Ieach of-ithesermoiinting' units ,A,eaccomplishedby the extent "of tightening un -a tical dire'ction' thereby;- causing:- frame. par s 7 4 ieiplate l3 towardthe pl ates'ltth'ereby the units is upon the bolts IS, a levelizing of the vehicle body upon the chassis frame may be obtained.

By means of this levelizing adjustment carried out by the extent of compression of the respective rubber bodies 9 of the various mounting units; A, the" vehicle, body, may be levelized in spite 0t irregularities inthe chassis frame and body parts. It will be apparent furthermore that a satisfactory cushioning of the body with r e spect to. the. chassis frame is obtained by the if;1t ejr positiion'' of;t'he bodies of rubber 9 between the chassis frame and vehicle body parts and thatthese: rubben bodies serve to insulate the \(ehiclebody parts-from the chassis frame parts. Ifimay be not'ed'tl'i'at in the normal condition humane.was be it is compressed and when it is disposed within the channel of the oross'beam l, the upper end of the plate M preferably does not engage the bottom of the channelf'ofsithe crossbeam; I;..\ Also it: may be o ed that-the platevleiis' oiaslightl QSsgareatharl the. corresponding erossnhritionaharea, v thelrii-bbekbodym against-which itengag es; plate m mber I s als p eierabl i:- i ht Widtlnthantheiinterior' widt of the channel be; tween theksidestheredh; v sures that the re1atinelympya le, n39 al' parts forming part ofqoltsecured totl i frame. andchassis; trame are at stan'tially; insulatedias well ascush on by the interposition-of portions j or -the bod-yo?- resilient materials: p I I V I The-action oircompression; O'fqfihg resilient body; 9 betweeniplatesliB and tMas aresult oi elative' movement-etasaidiplateshtoward oneanother eff; fected by tightening up of the nuts l6 on the bolts: .islillustrateicl in .Ffigui e 3;; Upon com; parison with Figure 2-; which'illustratesthe rub; hen-block fiain normal uncompressed condit" n, it, will be, seen thatin 'zFigure'; 3:tt e; QODlDlfis of; the' mbber: blocksdzbetweerrsthezp nti ,:35@ A has: caused said'rubber blockzss ,osflowrinthe 8, between which'mbberf block'ifl isinterppsed to be" forcedrapart or;:to:moyerrelatively; away from one another.- 7

- Having" thusdescribed-my invention; What claim a'sand-f'desire' to secure: by Letters Pat-1 enfio'f the United States is 1i In -vehicle cbnstructionpthe combination of a body inclu'tling' a frante-memberof downwardly; openingchannel :form; a chassis isecond framei me'mb'e abou o f resilient materialinterposed" said frame memb'ers',- saidibody'ofma -theichanne1 "portion Qf-ithE' firSt fraiice member and impinging said frame-membets at fOpi 'Q'site {sides or said body." of material, means for-*eonfini ng said ii'o'dy ot material between said frame members, and tensioning devicesfor; compressingcsa'id body of materialto; enlarge; its dimension vertically: and: cause: relative: vertical separating movement offsaid frame members.

2. In vehicle construction, thefcombinr an of ;,a "body i irame1-m'eIriber:- ofiadownwardly openin channel: form; a ichassis trams member,

body of --resilientzmaterial'rconfined ;vertically be ween said frame membersiaand' disposed-rm the: chan' nel of the body frame member,-is aidibddy of am l mp n ingisaid respective, frame .memL-L hers-at" thtruppen andilower sides. of said? body ofmaterial, memberszfior confiningvxsaidbody of material horlizontally between saidframermeinbeis, adiustablermembers *TfOl. compressing? said body? ofmaterial-:longitudinally-'offithe channel steam portion of the body frame member to cause relative movement of said frame members away from one another, and means for securing the body of resilient material to at least oneof said frame members.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2, in which the body frame member is formed at its sides with outwardly extending flanges overlying the chassis frame member, the resilient body having extensions thereof lying between and confined by said flanges and the chassis body member.

4. In vehicle construction, the combination of a body including a frame member, a chassis including a frame member, a body of resilient material interposed between said frame members, said body of material impinging said frame members at opposite sides of said body of material, means for confining said body of material between said frame members, and means for compressing said body of material to cause relative movement of said frame members, one of the frame members being of channel form and the said resilient body being disposed between the sides of the channel, a pair of engaging elements engaging opposite ends of said resilient body and extending into said channel, one side of said resilient body protruding from the open side of said channel and impinging the other frame member, said means comprising instrumentalities associated with said engaging members and cooperative therewith to move said engaging members toward one another compressing said resilient body therebetween, one of said engaging members being secured to the other of said frame members.

5. In vehicle construction, the combination of a body including a frame member, a chassis including a frame member, a body of resilient material interposed between said frame members, said body of material impinging said frame members at opposite sidesof said body of material,

means for confining said body of material be- ;tween said frame members, and means for compressing said body of material to cause relative 'movement of said frame members,'one of the frame members being of channel formation and the said resilient body comprising a block of rub- ;ber disposed between the sides of the channel, ,a pair of plates engaging opposite ends of said rubber block and extending into the channel, .one side of said rubber block protruding from the open side of the channel and impinging the .other frame member, said means comprising in- ;strumentalities associated with said plates and cooperative therewith to move said plates toward one another compressing said rubber block therebetween.

6. In vehicle construction, the combination of a body including a frame member, a chassis including a frame member, a body of resilient material interposed between said frame members,

said body of material impinging said frame members at opposite sides of said body of material, means for confining said body of material between said frame members, and means for compressing said body of material to cause relative movement of said frame members, one of the frame members being of channel formation and the said resilient body comprising a rubber block disposed between the sides of said channel, a pair of plate members engaging opposite ends of said rubber block and extending into said channel, one side of said rubber block protruding from the open side of said channel and impinging the other frame member, said means comprising fastening elements associated with said plates and extending through the rubber block and adjusta-bly cooperative with said plates to move the same toward one another compressing said rubber block therebetween.

7. In vehicle construction, the combination of a body including a frame member, a chassis including a frame member, a body of resilient material interposed between said frame members, said body of material impinging said frame members at opposite sides of said body of material, means for confining said body of material between said frame members, and means for compressing said body of material to cause relative movement of said frame members, one of the frame members being of channel formation and the said resilient body comprising a block of rubber disposed between the sides of the channel, a pair of plates engaging opposite ends of said rubber block and extending into the channel, one side of said rubber block protruding from the open side of the channel and impinging the other frame member, said means comprising instrumentalities associated with said plate and cooperative therewith to move said plates toward one another compressing said rubber block therebetween, one of said plates being secured to said other frame member, and means for securing said rubber block to the channel frame member.

JOSEPH F. MEADE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,727,609 Kramer Sept. 10, 1929 2,208,709 Tjaarda July 23, 1940 2,421,585 Thiry June 3, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 257,392 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1926 396,584 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933 443,774 Germany May 6, 1927 

